Introduction: Jeroen van den Helder is, without a doubt, a true "Passionate Darter" from the Netherlands. He has a dart website written in Dutch, however, Jeroen has an excellent command of the English language, so we were able to communicate about darts both in the US and The Netherlands (specifically the village of Kudelstaart, where Jeroen hails from). Jeroen is extremely passionate about darts, constantly thinks about darts & visualizes the game & the strategy. He has great ideas about wanting to organize & promote darts, and he plans to write a book about darts someday. Jereon is a very positive darter with many good experiences and if this interview were conducted in person, we would shake hands at the line, throw some darts and tell our stories out loud.

Questions and answers needed clarification throughout this interview process in Email, as the translation from Dutch to English was something that I wanted to be sure of and fully understand. Jeroen has been extremely gracious with his time and energies, and this interview is the best of the best that darts represents: Good sportsmanship and appreciation of one's efforts, and a virtual handshake at the line, across the miles, thousands and thousands of miles apart, as we live on other sides of the world. Still, the language of darts is easily understood by all passionate darters and this is true of our communication and shared interests in all things dart-related. Through this interview, you will hopefully get to know and understand Jeroen van den Helder, his competitive drive, future goals, and the essence of good sportsmanship from his point of view. He is, indeed, a "Passionate Darter" from the Netherlands and I am humbly thankful for the opportunity to present this interview.


How did you get started playing darts?
This might be a simple question, but not for me. I cannot remember exactly when I started. I started playing darts in my head when I was about 15 years old.

For years I played darts without actually throwing them. Weird, but true! I actually threw my first darts when I was about 20 years old. It's really funny to begin as an "experienced" player!

What kind of darts do you throw?
Well, I change a lot. Every few years I start all over with my original dart set: Dukes, 23 grams. I would love to have a new set. I know where I can find another set...This set lies on the bottom of a lake. My neighbor, and now teammate, threw them in that lake after a lost match!

For a close up of the window display, visit: Henk's Dart Store in Amsterdam.
Here I am preparing at a beautiful tournament with my good friend Huib, explaining the best way that I see things. I always have something to say, which must be irritating to others at times.

Tell me about your tournament, league and blind draw experiences?
Well, sorry but my book will be published when I’m 50 years of age! So, please have some patience. We don't have many blind draw tournaments around here. I only played in one tournament like that. I went with my good friend Huib and we drew each other a lot. We had a nice evening, ha ha.

Do you travel to tournaments and which are your favorites?
At the moment I don’t travel for any tournaments. We’ve got 20 superb tournaments in my village. I only have to walk 100 yards. If I win three in a row, then I will start thinking about other tournaments. As if that’s ever gonna happen!!! That will probably happen at the same time that sheep start flying!

How many teams do you play on, and how many times a week do you play?
I play in one team, which is BAK BV1. We had a terrible season last year in the highest division of this region (Amsterdam) and now we play in a lower division. But! We have all stayed together and that is something very valuable to me.

We’ll give it our best and then hopefully we'll return to the highest division again.

The Bak BVI Team, From left to right The BAK BVI Team Members...Rob, Danny, Mike, René, Jeroen, then
also standing form left to right Bak (with beer), Corné (without beer).
What is your favorite pub to play at, and what would make the perfect dart bar?
Well, that’s hard to say. Naturally my home pub www.barhetfort.nl.


But then again there are so many nice pubs. The perfect dart bar? Good boards, good lights, no other activities, just DARTS!

Do you practice and what is your practice routine?
Here is a picture of my training dartboard, at home. As you can see we are in the middle of a renovation, but of course, my training board is reachable by my three darts! Practice is possible.

I would really love to practice, but lately I’m very busy. When I do practice, I love to use my laptop. I save all my scores on my laptop and then create my own personal records. I have so many practicing methods, again you’ll have to wait for my book! One personal record I would love to break (before I’m too old) is this: You throw the three darts and you just try to score as many points as possible, which is 180 of course. You continue to score until an average of 100 is no longer possible.

For example: You start with 60. Then you throw 140 points. The average is 100.
With this average you may continue. With another 60, the average would be 60. You also still continue to play and calculate the averages, because after a 180, the new average will be 100 again.

Here's another example: You start with 100, 80, 80, 26. This is a total of 286 points. You now have to stop your attempt, because at this point it is impossible to reach an average of 100 (286 + 180 would be 466, and this calculates to be an average of less than 100). So you have just set your record at 286 points. My personal record is 5.305, in five consecutive games, which was unbelievable!

Regarding Jeroen's practice routine, I had some questions and wasn't sure that I fully understood his practice game. It took several Emails for to explain this in more detail, and here are Jeroen's responses:

As for the practicing-game I'll try again:

You throw your darts and try to score as many points as possible. When it's not possible to reach an average of 100 you will stop.

First three darts: 60

Before the second three darts, the average of 100 is still possible (you'll have to score at least 140 to reach the average of 100)

Suppose you throw another 60 with your second three darts.

Your score will be 120 and the average will be 60.

Before your third three darts, the average of 100 is still possible (you'll have to score 180 to reach the average of 100). Suppose you throw 99 with your third three darts. Your score will be 219 and the average will be 73, which is below 100!

Before your fourth three darts, the average of 100 is no longer possible.
If you would score a 180. Your score would be 219+180 = 399.
Your average is less than 100. You'll have to stop after nine darts and your personal record is 219.

A Detailed Example of This Practice Game:

Round/Score	Score	Sum	AVG	MAX AVG
Round 1	60	60	60	180
Round 2	60	120	60	(60+180)/2 =120
Round 3	100	220	73,333	(120+180)/3 =100
Round 4	120	340	85	(220+180)/4 =100
Round 5	35	375	75	(340+180)/5 =104
Round 6	STOP	STOP	STOP	(375+180/6 =92,5)

You may not use your 6th attempt, the game is over and your final total score is 375. Your 35 score ruined your game, you had to throw at least 80!

Wow, seems a simple game, but when I write it down, it is totally different. You can change the rules and change the desired average in 80 or 60 or whatever you want. Be careful, you can get addicted to these kind of games! To reach 5.305? That is not for everybody. (Not for me also these days, I can tell you that!!!) My record 5.305 is a sum of 5 consecutive games, I play them per five. That is not for everyone! My record 5.305 is a sum of 5 consecutive games, I play them per five. And again, that is not for everyone!!!!

What have been your best moments playing darts?
There are many. My best final I ever played was in our local town. I lost because my opponent was awesome! I lost a leg in which I hit two 180’s. I loved that final even though I lost.

My best memory is a match of 2 years ago with my team. We played the number two team and I really thought I was losing my match. My opponent missed his doubles and I hit a 110 out-shot with triple-19, single-13, and double-tops!

Do you consider darts a game or a sport and why/why not?
To be honest I’m not so busy with this question. I love darts and it does not bother me how people name it.

In your opinion, what needs to be done in the Netherlands to promote darts in a positive manner?
Well Sherilyn, that is the question! There is a huge lack of publicity, that’s for sure. There are not enough sponsors. There are a lot of people who think that they are more important than the game itself. I see a lot of failures in organizations. I’ll have to make that a chapter in my book. Actually your website says it all - passion for the game, that’s what we need in the Netherlands. If I would ever get a chance I would start with a governance of passionate darters. After a few years darts would be the number one sport. Sorry I’m loosing my head a bit, but some things are true.

How popular are darts in the Netherlands?
That's hard to say as the boost is a bit over. It’s still very popular, but I think we missed a big opportunity a few years ago. Maybe that chance will come again in the future.

At what age are young people allowed in the pubs to play darts in the Netherlands?
To compete at our tournaments you have to 15 years of age. In the pubs, I think you’ll have to be 16.

Tell me about the youth leagues in the Netherlands...
I don’t know much about it. My son (10 years) does not play. The fact is that we have some very talented boys and girls. There are enough tournaments in every region.

How do YOU help promote darts in a positive manner?
How do I help promote darts? Well it’s not up to me to say, but let’s say that I’m doing more than the average guy.

What makes up good sportsmanship?
Please, don't ever say that you did not throw well. That is so unbelievably difficult, even for me! Remember, if you do say it that with a game that you’ve lost, it takes the benefit from your opponent's victory. And when you say that with a game that you’ve won, it means your opponent was even worse.

Got it?

Editor's Note: Kudos to Jeroen - of all the interviews that I have been lucky enough to be involved in, no one single darter has expressed the sentiment of good sportsmanship as eloquently and truthfully as Jeroen. This is just one more thing that I admire about Jeroen.

Who do you admire in darts?
So many! I’ve enjoyed evenings with Ted Hankey and Tony O’Shea. They were really friendly and genuinely warm, both in different ways.

Most of all I admire our own volunteers who are in our ‘clubhouse’ every Friday afternoon to build up our lanes and everything that is necessary to have a great evening!

What darters would you like to meet?
Well, I could name some famous darters but I would like to see more different people to play darts! In the Netherlands we have a multi-cultural society. It seems that only white people play darts. That is something I just don’t understand.

What words of wisdom do you have for darters who are just starting out?
Ehm, dear Sherilyn, you have so many question. All words of wisdom are hidden in this interview. Okay, I'll give you my own one-liner: TAKE CARE OF YOUR CALCULATIONS, BUT DON’T FORGET YOUR CHANCES TO WIN THE MATCH (Hopefully this translates well.) This means that sometimes you have to depart the standard out-shots. For example, if you hit triple-20 much more easily than the triple-18, and your score is 94; and your opponent is on 16 points and good at his doubles - And, you've got 2 darts left, right? Don’t go for the triple-18, but hit the triple-20 and then the double-17.

Where do you get your information on the world of darts from?
No dart magazines for me, it’s all on the World Wide Web.

How did your website come to be?
I like to create presentations and websites. Every year I change the concept. However, I have recently noticed that I like to create new things...To update this website with the news of this region is a lot of work. I won’t keep this site forever. Maybe one or two more years (I feel that the time to move on is approaching).

What is the focus of your website?
The focus is darts in our region, especially our own tournaments.

Do you personally interview darters for your website?
No, I don’t have time for that. We had a special reporter named Ragious Rinus. He quit last year though, which is really a shame because he’s a very talented writer.

What is the strongest, most unique part of your website?
Well, probably the front page.


Jeroen, please tell me about your club and how it came to be...
Wow, I can’t tell you all of that in a short minute. The club was an idea of a good friend of mine. Huib is his name. I decided to help him and we set up a plan which has got out of control for the moment. Every good darter in the region wants to win an evening at our club these days. We try to see the darters as customers and give them as much quality as possible. And when I say quality, I mean quality in the organization.



Does your wife support your dart adventures?
She’s not really interested in darts but she does support me with everything I do. Well, I have to stay honest. Almost everything!

Tell me three things that most darters do not know about you!
This question is to difficult for me. I talk a lot about darts and I don’t think that I have many secrets left. I will give it a try:

1. I would really love to write a book about darts.
2. I would love to stop working and play darts or be an organizer, every day.
3. For the moment my play is worthless, but I will improve my darts when I’m 46!

What are you doing when you are not playing darts?
These days, I work a lot. I work far too many hours! Of course I try to spend the rest of the time with my family.


Playing a match against Ted Hankey...I thought I might have a chance, but he threw his last dart
backwards in the Double-Bull! Everybody was astounded!

Thank you Sherilyn. Appreciation and respect for you! You’re welcome in The Netherlands, You’re welcome in Kudelstaart! And Welcome at Poel’s Eye! All good health for you and your beloved ones!

Bar 't Fort

Team BAK BVI Competes in the Village De Kwakel Approximately (5) Miles From Kudelstaart

Jeroen's Links...

www.poelseye.nl - Jeroen van den Helder's Website
www.BarHetFort.nl - Jeroen's Place to Play Competitive Team Darts

Note From The Editor: My sincere and genuine thanks to Jeroen for his thoughtful time and reflections on the world of darts, for this interview. Jeroen has an open invitation to visit the US, where I will show him the best of the best, on this side of the world, of darts! Hopefully, Jeroen will someday come to the US for this tour.

In closing, with reference to the www.poelseye.nl dart website, "poel" means "lake", in Dutch. Yes indeed, Jeroen is a "Passionate Darter" from the Netherlands and he is ECHT BIJZONDER.

As always, shoot well and I'll see you at the line.